Acer palmatum 'Shindeshojo' Japanese Maple

‘Shindeshojo' reportedly produces the best red spring foliage color of any of the Japanese maples in cultivation. It is a small, slow-growing cultivar that typically matures over time in an upright, rounded, shrubby form to 5-7' tall and as wide. It may eventually grow to as much as 10' tall. Small palmate leaves (to 2" long) are divided into 7 (less frequently 5) ovate lobes with serrate margins. Leaves emerge in spring in a bright and showy crimson red. Foliage retains that good red color for at least one month before gradually fading to reddish green and finally green by summer. Leaves finally turn interesting shades of red and orange in fall. Bark on young stems is reddish brown. Small reddish flowers in spring are somewhat attractive on close inspection, but are not showy from a distance. - Missouri Botanical Garden